Ironing Pad Comprising a Solid Stain Treatment Composition

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an ironing pad comprising a cover and a solid stain treatment composition. The solid stain treatment composition is produced from a solid material reversibly solidifying a fluid and a fluid stain treatment agent. The invention relates to a method for treating a stain on a textile fabric having such an ironing pad, the ironing pad being placed on the stain, and heat and/or pressure being applied to the ironing pad.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2008/054959 filed 24 Apr. 2008, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2007 034 540.4 filed 20 Jul. 2007.

The invention relates to an ironing pad comprising a cover and a solid stain treatment composition. A method of stain removal with such an ironing pad is also described.

When textiles are domestically cleaned, for example, in a washing machine, not all stains are always completely removed. This can be due, for example, to the type of stains or to incorrect treatment of the stains. This is especially annoying for the consumer if the stains are discovered only after the textile has been dried and, in particular, only when it is ironed.

A multi-stage method for the (post-)treatment of a stain on a textile is known from EP 0910619 B1, wherein a detergent composition is applied to the stain, an absorptive layer placed in the area of the stain, and pressure and heat applied to the stain by means of an iron or similar pressure and heat on the opposite side of the textile to the absorptive layer.

It would be more practical for a consumer, however, if he or she were given the option of being able to treat the stain directly, without first having to apply a stain treatment composition and an absorptive layer in the area of the stain.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an agent for the simple and direct (post-)treatment of stains.

This object is achieved with an ironing pad comprising a cover and a solid stain treatment composition, wherein the stain treatment composition contains a stain treatment agent and a solid able to reversibly solidify liquid.

Such an ironing pad has the advantage that the consumer can place it directly over the stained areas of the washed textile and remove the stain by the application of heat and/or pressure, by bringing a stain treatment agent which is reversibly solidified by the solid in contact with the stain to be removed.

Preferably, the stain treatment agent contains hydrogen peroxide or a source thereof.

Many of the stains which are not (completely) removed in conventional domestic washing and cleaning process in a washing machine are bleachable stains. These stains can be made less visible with the aid of a stain treatment agent containing hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is advantageous in that it can be easily incorporated into a liquid stain treatment agent, is an inexpensive bleach, and leaves no residues on textiles treated therewith.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the solid able to reversibly solidify liquid does so by enveloping drops of liquid which may be formed.

In another preferred embodiment, the solid able to reversibly solidify liquid does so by reversibly absorbing the liquid.

It is also preferable for the solid able to reversibly solidify liquid to be chosen from silicas, sepiolite, bentonites, perlite rock and combinations thereof.

All of these materials are able to reversibly convert a liquid stain treatment agent into a solid form, and to release the stain treatment agent as liquid under application of pressure and/or heat. Particularly preferred solids able to reversibly solidify liquid include silicas and perlite rock. The solid able to reversibly solidify liquid is most particularly preferably hydrophobic silica.

The stain treatment agent preferably contains one or more ingredients chosen from surfactants, defoaming agents, complexing agents, preservatives, perfumes, organic solvents, pH adjusters, textile care compounds and mixtures thereof.

These ingredients can be advantageous in actual treatment of the stain. For example, they can impart an advantageous effect such as a pleasant fragrance to the textile fabric treated with the ironing pad. Further, the ingredients can also stabilize the stain treatment agent itself or impart a property that is pleasing to the consumer (for example a pleasant fragrance) to the stain treatment agent.

Because of its interfacial-tension-reducing and hence stain-removal-supporting action, a particularly preferred component of the stain treatment agent is a surfactant. The surfactant may be present in the stain treatment agent in an amount of from 0.01 to 10 wt. %, preferably from 0.1 to 5 wt. % and most particularly preferably from 0.25 to 3 wt. %, based on total weight of the stain treatment agent.

Preferably, the cover of the ironing pad includes a material chosen from cellulose, pulp, plastic and combinations thereof.

These materials are not only resistant to heat and pressure but also have a certain absorption capacity, such that at least part if not all of the treated stain can be transferred to the cover during treatment with the ironing pad.

The invention also relates to a method for treatment of a stain on a textile fabric, comprising the following steps:

-   -   Placing an ironing pad on the stained textile, wherein the         ironing pad comprises a cover and a solid stain treatment         composition, wherein the stain treatment composition comprises a         stain treatment agent and a solid able to reversibly solidify         liquid,     -   applying heat and/or pressure to the ironing pad thereby         releasing liquid from the solid for treating the stain, whereby         at least part of the stain is removed from the textile, and     -   removing the ironing pad from the treated textile fabric.

This method allows a stain to be removed quickly and easily from a textile which has already been washed and dried.

Preferably, the heat and/or pressure is applied with an iron.

When an ironing pad is ironed over, the solid in the solid stain treatment agent liquefies and is released by the weight of the iron and brought into contact with a stain to be removed. Together with the heat released by the iron, the stain is at least partially removed.

The invention is explained in more detail below by reference inter alia to the Examples.

The ironing pad comprises a cover and a solid stain treatment composition.

The solid stain treatment composition includes at least a stain treatment agent and a solid capable of reversibly solidifying a liquid. The actual stain treatment agent is liquid and as far as possible is completely converted into solid form by the solid capable of reversibly solidifying a liquid.

Within the context of this invention the property of “reversibly solidifying” means that the solid in question is capable at least once of converting the liquid into a solid form and then selectively releasing it again as liquid, for example under the application of pressure and/or heat. Conversion into a solid form can take place by reversible envelopment of the liquid, in particular by reversible envelopment of drops of liquid which are formed, or by reversible absorption of the liquid by the solid which reversibly solidifies liquid.

The stain treatment agent can include from 0 to 25 wt. %, preferably from 0.01 to 10 wt. %, and most preferably from 0.5 to 4 wt. % of bleach. The bleach is preferably a peroxide bleach, and most preferably hydrogen peroxide. Per-acids, per-salts or hypohalides such as hypochlorite can alternatively also be used as bleach in the stain treatment agent.

The stain treatment agent can further contain one or more surfactants. The surfactant is present in the stain treatment agent is from 0.01 to 10 wt. %, preferably from 0.1 to 5 wt. %, and most particularly preferably between 0.25 and 3 wt. %, based on total weight of the liquid stain treatment agent. The stain treatment agent can contain anionic, non-ionic, zwitterionic and/or amphoteric surfactants.

Alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated, in particular primary alcohols having preferably 8 to 18C atoms and on average 1 to 12 mol of ethylene oxide (BO) per mol of alcohol are preferably used as non-ionic surfactants, in which the alcohol residue can be linear or preferably methyl-branched in the 2-position or can contain linear and methyl-branched residues in the mixture, such as are conventionally present in oxoalcohol residues. However, alcohol ethoxylates having linear residues obtained from alcohols of native origin having 12 to 18C atoms (e.g., from coconut, palm, tallow or oleyl alcohol) and on average 2 to 8 EO per mol of alcohol are particularly preferred. Preferred ethoxylated alcohols include, for example, C₁₂₋₁₄ alcohols having 3 EO, 4 EO or 7 EO, C₉₋₁₁ alcohol having 7 EO, C₁₃₋₁₅ alcohols having 3 EO, 5 EO, 7 EO or 8 EO, C₁₂₋₁₈ alcohols having 3 EO, 5 EO or 7 EO, and mixtures thereof, such as mixtures of C₁₂₋₁₄ alcohol having 3 EO and C₁₂₋₁₈ alcohol having 7 EO. The specified degrees of ethoxylation are statistical averages which for an individual product can be a whole number or a fraction. Preferred alcohol ethoxylates have a narrow homolog distribution (narrow range ethoxylates, NRE). In addition to these non-ionic surfactants, fatty alcohols having more than 12 EO can also be used. Examples thereof are tallow fatty alcohol having 14 EO, 25 EO, 30 EO or 40 EO. Non-ionic surfactants containing EO and PO groups together in the molecule can also be used according to the invention. Block copolymers having EO-PO block units or PO-EO block units can be used here, as too can EO-PO-EO copolymers or PO-EO-PO copolymers. Mixed alkoxylated non-ionic surfactants, in which EO and PO units are distributed randomly rather than in blocks, can also be used of course. Such products are obtainable by the simultaneous action of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide on fatty alcohols.

Alkyl glucosides of the general formula RO(G)_(x) can also be used as non-ionic surfactants, wherein R represents a primary straight-chain or methyl-branched aliphatic residue, in particular one methyl-branched in the 2-position, having 8 to 22, preferably 12 to 18C atoms, and G represents a glycose unit having 5 or 6C atoms, preferably glucose. The degree of oligomerization x, indicating the distribution of monoglycosides and oligoglycosides, is any number between 1 and 10, and is preferably between 1.2 and 1.4.

Another class of non-ionic surfactants preferably used, which can be used as the sole non-ionic surfactant or in combination with other non-ionic surfactants, are alkoxylated, preferably, ethoxylated or ethoxylated and propoxylated, fatty acid alkyl esters, preferably having 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, in particular fatty acid methyl ester.

Non-ionic surfactants of the amine oxide type, for example N-cocoalkyl-N,N-dimethyl amine oxide and N-tallow alkyl-N,N-dihydroxyethyl amine oxide, and of the fatty acid alkanol amide type can also be suitable. The amount of these non-ionic surfactants is preferably no more than that of the ethoxylated fatty alcohols, in particular no more than half that.

Other suitable surfactants are polyhydroxy fatty acid amides of the formula (I)

wherein R—CO represents an aliphatic acyl residue having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R¹ represents hydrogen, an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl residue having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and [Z] represents a linear or branched polyhydroxyalkyl residue having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and 3 to 10 hydroxyl groups. Polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are known substances obtainable by reductive amination of a reducing sugar with ammonia, an alkyl amine or an alkanol amine, and subsequent acylation with a fatty acid, a fatty acid alkyl ester or a fatty acid chloride.

Polyhydroxy fatty acid amides also include compounds of the formula (II)

wherein R represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl residue having 7 to 12 carbon atoms; R¹ represents a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl residue or an aryl residue having 2 to 8 carbon atoms; and R² represents a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl residue or an aryl residue or an oxyalkyl residue having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, with C₁₋₄ alkyl or phenyl residues being preferred; and [Z] represents a linear polyhydroxyalkyl residue whose alkyl chain is substituted with at least two hydroxyl groups, or alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated derivatives of this residue

[Z] is preferably obtained by reductive amination of a sugar (e.g., glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose or xylose). The N-alkoxy- or N-aryloxy-substituted compounds can then be converted into the desired polyhydroxy fatty acid amides by reaction with fatty acid methyl esters in the presence of an alkoxide as catalyst.

Alternatively or in addition to the non-ionic surfactants, the stain treatment agent can also contain anionic surfactants. Useful anionic surfactants include those of the sulfonate and sulfate type. Suitable sulfonate surfactants preferably include C₉₋₁₃ alkylbenzene sulfonates, olefin sulfonates (i.e., mixtures of alkene and hydroxyalkane sulfonates and disulfonates, such as are obtained from C₁₂₋₁₈ monoolefins having a terminal or internal double bond by sulfonation with gaseous sulfur trioxide and subsequent alkaline or acid hydrolysis of the sulfonation products). Also suitable are alkane sulfonates obtained from C₁₂₋₁₈ alkanes, for example, by sulfochlorination or sulfoxidation with subsequent hydrolysis or neutralization. Likewise, suitable anionic surfactants include esters of α-sulfo fatty acids (ester sulfonates), for example, α-sulfonated methyl esters of hydrogenated coconut, palm kernel or tallow fatty acids.

Other suitable anionic surfactants include sulfonated fatty acid glycerol esters. Fatty acid glycerol esters are understood to be the mono-, di- and triesters and mixtures thereof, such as are obtained by esterification of a monoglycerol having 1 to 3 mol of fatty acid or in interesterification of triglycerides having 0.3 to 2 mol of glycerol. Preferred sulfonated fatty acid glycerol esters include sulfonation products of saturated fatty acids having 6 to 22 carbon atoms (e.g., hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, decanoic acid, myristic acid, lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid or docosanoic acid).

Alkali, and in particular, sodium salts of the sulfuric acid semi-esters of C₁₂-C₁₈ fatty alcohols (e.g., coconut fatty alcohol, tallow fatty alcohol, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl or stearyl alcohol) or of C₁₀-C₂₀ oxoalcohols and the semi-esters of secondary alcohols having these chain lengths are preferred as alk(en)yl sulfates. Also preferred are alk(en)yl sulfates of the specified chain length containing a synthetic, straight-chain alkyl residue produced on a petrochemical basis, which have an analogous decomposition behavior to the appropriate compounds based on fat chemistry raw materials. Of interest from a detergent perspective are C₁₂-C₁₆ alkyl sulfates, C₁₂-C₁₅ alkyl sulfates and C₁₄-C₁₅ alkyl sulfates. 2,3-alkyl sulfates (commercially obtainable from the Shell Oil Company under the tradename DAN®) are also suitable anionic surfactants.

Sulfuric acid monoesters of the straight-chain or branched C₇₋₂₁ alcohols ethoxylated with 1 to 6 mol of ethylene oxide, such as 2-methyl-branched C₉₋₁₁ alcohols having on average 3.5 mol of ethylene oxide (EO) or C₁₂₋₁₈ fatty alcohols having 1 to 4 EO, are also suitable. In this respect, the stain treatment agent according to the invention may contain 0.01 to 5 wt. %, preferably 0.5 to 3 wt. % and in particular 1.5 to 2.5 wt. %, of an ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfate based on total weight of the agent.

Other suitable anionic surfactants include salts of alkyl sulfosuccinic acid (also known as sulfosuccinates or sulfosuccinic acid esters) and monoesters and/or diesters of sulfosuccinic acid with alcohols, preferably fatty alcohols, and in particular ethoxylated fatty alcohols. Preferred sulfosuccinates contain C₈₋₁₈ fatty alcohol residues or mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred sulfosuccinates contain a fatty alcohol residue derived from ethoxylated fatty alcohols which are non-ionic surfactants in their own right (see below for a description). Once again, sulfosuccinates whose fatty alcohol residues derive from ethoxylated fatty alcohols having a narrow homolog distribution are particularly preferred. It is likewise possible to use alk(en)yl succinic acid having preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alk(en)yl chain or salts thereof.

Other suitable anionic surfactants include soaps. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acid soaps are suitable, such as the salts of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, (hydrogenated) erucic acid and docosanoic acid, and in particular soap mixtures derived from natural fatty acids (e.g., coconut, palm kernel, olive oil or tallow fatty acids).

Anionic surfactants, including soaps, can be present in the form of their sodium, potassium or magnesium salts. Anionic surfactants are preferably in the form of their sodium salts.

The stain treatment agent preferably contains anionic surfactants, particularly alkyl sulfates and/or alkane sulfonates. Of these anionic surfactants, secondary alkane sulfonates, and most particularly secondary C₁₃₋₁₇ alkane sulfonates, are particularly preferred.

The liquid stain treatment agent can contain an organic solvent. The main solvent is preferably water, and the liquid stain treatment agent optionally contains an organic solvent as an additional solvent. Suitable organic solvents include monovalent or polyvalent alcohols, alkanol amines or glycol ethers, provided that they are miscible with water in a concentration range from 1 to 45 wt. %, relative to the complete stain treatment agent. The solvents are preferably chosen from ethanol, n-propanol, i-propanol, butanols, glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, butanediols, glycerol, diglycol, propyl diglycol, butyl diglycol, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether, methoxytriglycol, ethoxytriglycol, butoxytriglycol, diisopropylene glycol monomethyl ether, diisopropylene glycol mono ethyl ether, 1-butoxyethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, propylene glycol t-butyl ether, di-n-octyl ether, 1-(2-butoxypropoxy)propan-2-ol, toluene sulfonate, cumene sulfonate and mixtures of these solvents.

With surfactant-containing stain treatment agents in particular, it can be advantageous for the agent to contain a defoaming agent. Examples of foam inhibitors which can be used in the stain treatment agents include soaps, paraffins or silicone compounds, in particular silicone oils, which are optionally present as emulsions. The amount of foam inhibitor is preferably from 0.001 to 5 wt. %, and particularly preferably from 0.01 to 1 wt. %, based on total weight of the stain treatment agent.

It can also be advantageous for the stain treatment agent to contain a complexing agent. The complexing agent is chosen from those stable in the presence of bleach and which themselves stabilize the bleach by complexing metal ions. The amount of complexing agent is conventionally from 0.01 to 1 wt. %, based on total weight of the stain treatment agent. Suitable complexing agents include alkali salts of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), alkali salts of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), methylglycine diacetic acid trisodium salt (MGDA), iminodisuccinates (IDS) or ethylene diamine-N,N′-disuccinate (EDDS). Other suitable complexing agents include organophosphonates such as 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP), aminotri(methylene phosphonic acid) (ATMP), diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid) (DTPMP or DETPMP) and 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBS-AM), commonly used in the form of their ammonium or alkali metal salts.

The agent can include preservatives for stabilizing the stain treatment agent against microorganisms. Examples of preservatives include sorbic acid and its salts, benzoic acid and its salts, salicylic acid and its salts, phenoxyethanol, formic acid and its salts, 3-iodo-2-propynyl butyl carbamate, sodium N-(hydroxymethyl)glycinate, biphenyl-2-ol and mixtures thereof. Other suitable preservatives include isothiazolones, mixtures of isothiazolones and mixtures of isothiazolones with other compounds, for example, tetramethylol glycoluril.

The stain removal agent can also include one or more perfumes in an amount of conventionally up to 15 wt. %, preferably 0.01 to 5 wt. %, particularly preferably 0.3 to 3 wt. %, based on total weight of the stain removal agent. Individual aroma compounds, for example, synthetic products of the ester, ether, aldehyde, ketone, alcohol and hydrocarbon type, can be used as perfume oils or fragrances. Mixtures of different aromas which together generate an attractive fragrance note are preferably used. Such perfume oils can also contain natural aroma mixtures accessible from plant sources.

The pH of the liquid stain treatment agent is adjusted so that it helps to stabilize the bleach, preferably hydrogen peroxide. Thus, pH is typically in the acid to weakly basic range and is from 3 to 8, preferably around 6.

A particularly preferred liquid stain treatment agent contains water, hydrogen peroxide and an anionic surfactant. An even more preferred liquid stain treatment agent contains water, hydrogen peroxide, an anionic surfactant and a defoaming agent. A most particularly preferred liquid stain treatment agent contains water, hydrogen peroxide, an anionic surfactant, a defoaming agent and a complexing agent.

In order to produce the solid stain treatment composition, the liquid stain treatment agent is mixed with a solid capable of reversibly solidifying liquid. This solid is able to solidify the liquid stain treatment agent almost completely, as well as release it as liquid again under application of pressure and/or heat. Suitable solids which solidify liquid include silicas, sepiolite, bentonites and/or perlite rock.

Silicas are one example of a solid able to reversibly solidify liquid by enveloping the drops of liquid which are formed. Silica is the collective name for compounds of the general formula (SiO₂)_(m).nH₂O. In the context of this invention, hydrophobic silicas are preferably used. Suitable hydrophobic silicas include silicon dioxide which has been hydrophobed with octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane, polydimethyl siloxane, octyl silane and/or hexamethyl disilazane (HMDS). A particularly useful silica is AEROSIL® R 812 S (from Degussa), a pyrogenic silica post-treated with hexamethyl disilazane having a specific surface area of 300 g/m². Solid stain treatment compositions produced using hydrophobic silicas demonstrate good stability. In addition, free-flowing, solid stain treatment compositions are obtained which are very suitable for further processing.

In order to produce the solid stain treatment composition, the liquid stain treatment agent (which preferably contains H₂O₂) is mixed with silica (preferably hydrophobic silica. The components should be mixed together intensively so that droplets are formed and the liquid phase can be enveloped by the solid phase.

Examples of solids which solidifies liquid by reversibly absorbing the liquid are sepiolite, bentonites, or perlite rock.

Sepiolite (meerschaum, Mg₄[(OH)₂/Si₆O₁₅].2H₂O+4H₂O or Mg₈H₆[(OH)₁₀/Si₁₂O₃₀].6H₂O) is a clay mineral having a fibrous structure. As a phyllosilicate, sepiolite contains layers of [SiO₄] tetrahedra. In its natural state sepiolite can absorb up to 250% of its weight in water.

Bentonites are clays and rocks containing smectites, particularly montmorillonite, as the principal minerals. Mica, illite, cristobalite and zeolites may also be present as impurities. Montmorillonite gives bentonites properties such as swelling capacity (swelling clays), thixotropy and ion-exchange capability. Crude bentonites are either calcium bentonites (not capable of swelling) or sodium bentonites (capable of swelling). The swelling capacity of bentonites can be modified by exchanging the Ca ions for Na ions.

Perlite rock (perlite) is a conventionally pale gray but also black, natural volcanic glass with a rhyolite composition, containing 70-76% SiO₂, 11-18% Al₂O₃, 4-6% K₂O and 2-7% water. If perlite rock is heated to temperatures of between 850 and 1200° C., it expands to form an ultra-light, pumice-like white “sponge rock” with a 10 to 20 times greater volume, known as expanded perlite.

Sepiolite, bentonites and/or perlite rock all have a high absorbency for liquids and are stable in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.

The ratio of liquid textile treatment agent to liquid-solidifying solid in the solid stain treatment composition is very much dependent on the solidifying capacity of the solid.

In addition to the solid stain treatment composition, the ironing pad also includes a cover. This cover preferably contains a heat-resistant material such as cellulose, pulp, plastic or a combination of these materials. Filter paper is one example of a particularly preferably suitable material. The cover can be formed from two layers. The layers can be any shape, but from a production point of view they are preferably round, square, triangular or rectangular. Two layers can be converted into a closed cover by pressing, crimping and/or gluing the edges. A filled ironing pad has a slightly pillow-like form.

Before the layers are sealed to form a closed cover, the solid stain treatment composition is introduced between the layers so that it is inside the cover once the layers are sealed.

The finished ironing pads are preferably stored in an air-tight and steam-tight pack which allows the ironing pads to be removed individually. The pack can be a blister pack or a heat-sealed pouch, for example. Heat-sealed pouches for storing the ironing pads are preferably made from a multi-layer composite material. The heat-sealed pouches preferably have one layer made from a support material, for example polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a barrier layer, made from aluminum for example, and a layer with a sealing medium, for example polyethylene (PE).

In order to produce an ironing pad, the liquid stain treatment agent was prepared first. This was done by simply mixing together the ingredients listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Composition of the liquid stain treatment agents (amounts in wt. %) Constituent Formulation A Formulation B Secondary C₁₃₋₁₇ alkane sulfonate 0.27 0.22 HEDP* 0.03 0.02 H₂O₂ 2.18 2.15 NaOH 0.01 0.01 Silicone defoaming agent 0.3 0.5 Preservative, perfume + + Water to make 100 to make 100 *HEDP: (1-Hydroxyethylidene) diphosphonic acid

7.5 g of hydrophobic silica (Aerosir® R 812 S; Degussa) were added in each case to 92.5 g of the liquid stain treatment agent A and B and the solids mixture obtained in each case was sheared with a high-speed toothed disk (peripheral speed 4.3 m/s).

3 g of the powder obtained in each case were placed between two circular pieces of filter paper. An ironing pad comprising a closed cover and a solid inside the cover was obtained by exerting a pressure on the adjacent edges of the two layers of filter paper. E1 corresponds to the ironing pad with stain treatment agent A and E2 corresponds to the ironing pad with stain treatment agent B.

The ironing pads obtained were stored individually in an air-tight and steam-tight heat-sealed pouch.

In order to use the ironing pad it was removed from the packaging and placed on the stain. By ironing over the ironing pad with a hot iron, the weight of the iron releases the liquid textile treatment agent again from the solid which reversibly solidifies a liquid, and this in combination with the temperature of the iron removes or at least significantly reduces the treated stain.

Table 2 shows the results of the stain removal exercise. This exercise involved placing an ironing pad over the stains, which had been washed into cotton, and ironing over it with a domestic iron heated to level 2. The stains were each washed in by means of a washing cycle in a domestic washing machine (Miele Novotronic) at 40° C. A detergent containing no bleach and no enzymes was used.

The stain removal ability of ironing pads E1 and E2 was determined by measuring the tristimulus value Y (DIN 5033). To this end the Y values of the stained, untreated textiles and the Y values of the stained textiles treated with an ironing pad were determined (see Table 2). The values were measured at 420 nm (instrument: Datacolor Spectraflash 600, 30 mm aperture).

TABLE 2 Remission: Y-value Blueberry Ice cream Red wine Tea juice (chocolate) Stain before treatment 60.9 70.2 48.9 43.3 Treated with E1 87.5 88.8 85.9 61.6 Stain before treatment 61.0 69.8 52.5 38.4 Treated with E2 83.9 86.5 82.6 56.0

It is clear from the data in Table 2 that stains in pre-washed textiles can be significantly reduced with the aid of the ironing pads E1 and E2.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only, and is not to be taken as a limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of any claims presented hereafter. 

1. Ironing pad comprising: a cover and a solid stain treatment composition, wherein the stain treatment composition comprises a solid able to reversibly solidify liquid and a stain treatment agent.
 2. Ironing pad according to claim 1, wherein the stain treatment agent comprises hydrogen peroxide or a source thereof.
 3. Ironing pad according to claim 1, wherein the solid solidifies liquid by enveloping drops of liquid which are formed.
 4. Ironing pad according to claim 1, wherein the solid solidifies liquid by reversibly absorbing the liquid.
 5. Ironing pad according to claim 1, wherein the solid is chosen from silicas, sepiolite, bentonites, perlite rock and combinations thereof.
 6. Ironing pad according to claim 5, wherein the solid is a hydrophobic silica.
 7. Ironing pad according to claim 1, wherein the stain treatment agent further comprises one or more ingredients chosen from surfactants, defoaming agents, complexing agents, perfume, organic solvents, pH adjuster and mixtures thereof.
 8. Ironing pad according to claim 1, wherein the stain treatment agent further comprises 0.01 to 10 wt. % of a surfactant.
 9. Ironing pad according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a material chosen from cellulose, pulp, plastic and combinations thereof.
 10. Ironing pad according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises two layers which have been pressed, crimped and/or glued together at their edges.
 11. Method for treating a stain on a textile fabric comprising: placing an ironing pad according to claim 1 on the stained textile, applying heat and/or pressure to the ironing pad thereby releasing liquid from the solid for treating the stain, whereby at least part of the stain is removed from the textile, and removing the ironing pad from the treated textile fabric.
 12. Method for treating a stain according to claim 11, wherein the heat and/or pressure are/is applied by an iron. 